Rare Bulbs & Species Iris

Among the most beguiling characters in Nature's living cloak are lovely rare bulbs, especially the wildly beautiful species Iris. Each year their humble air turns to sudden splendour in our delighted presence...

"For those who like to specialize in their gardening, or who possess the collector's instinct, it would be difficult to fix upon a more rewarding solution than bulbous plants in general . . . It is when we begin to specialize that we seem to get under the very skin of our craft , so to speak, when we know the purest and most absorbing preoccupation."

Louise Beebe Wilder - Hardy Bulbs 1936

We are firm believers in BULBS.... a catchall phrase for a wonderful group of plants that derive their endurance from various types of underground storage organs:

True 'Bulbs' have a short stem base bearing one or more buds enclosed in overlapping
fleshy 'leaves'. This category includes the genera - Narcissus, Tulips, Lilies, Galtonia, Galanthus, Hyacinths and Muscari.

Rhizomes develop from elongated horizontal subterranean plant stems, thickened by
deposits of reserve food. Bearded Iris are the most notable examples, but Dianella,Kniphofia, and Hemerocallis also have rhizomatous root systems.

Faithful companions of the seasons - these provident creatures pack their own brown bag lunches to sustain themselves through the year. Often able to thrive under tough conditions, their survival strategy allows them to endure adversity or neglect. Inherently generous, they reward reasonable care with yearly pleasure & annual increase

Their exceptional flowers enrich the landscape with charm and distinction. Many bloom at times when their appearance is quite surprising - and a welcome reminder of The Garden's resurgent lifeforce. A well chosen bulb will be a gratifying addition to any garden landscape - contributing vital punctuation to every style and design.

Narcissus viridiflora

"...anticipating and extending the gardener's pleasure in a way that is in the highest degree heartening."

Louise Beebe Wilder,Hardy Bulbs 1936

Research can be an enjoyable way to expand your horizons and refine your own choices. So why not explore the fascinating world of bulbous plants in these works:

Bulbs and Iris by Roger Phillips & Martyn Rix, 1989 - like all the Random House paperback series, both books are outstanding surveys with pictures of native habitats.

The Iris by Brian Mathew, 1986 and Iris by Fritz Kohlein, 1988: If you are mainly familiar with the Tall Beardeds - these two scholarly reference books focus on the Iris Species that are found in the wild - universally remarkable for their intricate charm.

Narcissus by Michael Jefferson-Brown, 1991 and Narcissus: A Guide to Wild Daffodils
by John Blanchard (published by the Alpine Garden Society) The most enduring of all....

Cape Bulbs by Richard Doutt; 1994 and also The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs by
Manning, Goldblatt, & Snijman, 2002 (both published by Timber Press) A very lovely group of plants not to be missed by gardeners in California's Mediterranean climate areas.

The Tulip by Anna Pavord, 1999 - History of the art and cultivation of a classic flower.

Bulbs by John Bryan, 2002 - the finest volume on a multi-faceted topic. Wonderful!

"From early times bulbs have been part of the fabric of the human race. Their
beauty has inspired mankind throughout the centuries and has been realized and
appreciated in literature, paintings, other art forms, and, most importantly, in living art "

John Bryan - Bulbs (Revised Ed.), 2002

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Over the course of centuries, a vast reservoir of useful & ornamental plants has been
amassed through the attention, skill, and perseverance of countless people. Original
species have been discovered and collected; marvelous new forms have been carefully
bred and selected. Along with the beneficent Arts, this is surely the most honorable
endeavour humankind has to its credit. The work threads back through time, and it
has created an essential - but fragile - possession that is held in trust for the future.

Unlike many cultural artifacts - which can be stored indefinitely - this invaluable
horticultural heritage must be continually cultivated. The beauty and richness of every garden’s birthright can only be maintained by individual gardeners cherishing it personally. Otherwise, Oblivion ……… Support for the various groups devoted to advancing the work of Preservation is crucial. You may easily access the websites of some of the most important organizations through these links:

"Just as their relatives in the wild are rapidly diminishing in number, so too the ranks
of our finest garden plants are thinning . Many of them are in danger of disappearing
from cultivation, many more have already been lost forever. The problem is worldwide."

Christoper Brickell - The Vanishing Garden1986

Henry David Thoreau famously declared: "In wildness is the preservation of the world."-
but around the world, wildness itself is under seige. The fabric of life is fraying under
a sky whose weather is indeed changing. The impacts of conflict, industrial development,
pollution, and population pressure are relentlessly destructive. All around the globe environmental niches are crumbling for the plants and animals whose very existence
depends upon them. The chaos of the human world has been damaging the integrity of the
natural world ever since the beginnings of civilization ............. but there really are limits - and it seems we have reached them.

"When the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more.......
another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again."

American naturalist & explorer, William Beebe (1877-1962)

While we all may hope the Endangered do not become the Extinct - no one can shelter a Snow
Leopard in their backyard. As with so much else in our beautiful Biosphere, essentially you can only pray for them. The GARDEN is the last real refuge and power spot for most of us. In it, we fully take personal responsibility for our own tiny corner of Nature and each of the creatures in it. So plant something untamed or ancient or unusual; protect something that could use a helping hand. Make the most of the opportunity to enrich your own experience, while making it possible for what you love to flourish.

"It has taken me half a lifetime to puzzle out the things most worth doing,
and a good slice out of the other half to learn the best ways of doing them…

British garden designer & author, Gertrude Jekyll (1843-1932)

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Here at GREENMANTLE we are committed to growing and propagating wild species and genuinely special old horticultural varieties. Both categories are under intense stress in the modern world, ecologically and commercially. Our current selections are a small sampling of our collection for other interested gardeners…….they are all unique plants whose beauty, rarity and history caught our eye - and may possibly appeal to yours. We will be sending them out from early August through early November, or while their limited supplies last. ....

Minimum order is $20 - Plus $10 shipping charge per order....

California customers please include 8% sales tax. Plants are shipped by U.S. Post Office Priority Mail - we regret that we cannot ship to Florida. You may download our Rose Order Form to use if you wish: It can be found in the list of our Links on the right.

PLEASE NOTE: All items are guaranteed organically grown - here, by us - from our own mother stocks : True-to-name, sound & healthy - viable upon your receipt of order. Since many of our offerings are uncommon - or have specific requirements -

Thereafter - their well-being is in your hands .......

BULB OFFERINGS are posted annually around the Summer Solstice...

GREENMANTLE 2016 AVAILABILITY LIST

Iris - plus Bletilla, Freesia, Ferraria, Gladiolus & Lachenalia

Scorpiron/Juno Section of the Iris Family : These distinctive bulbous Iris grow like little cornstalks with their exquisite flowers in each leaf axil ... their bulbs have long fragile roots which must be preserved through careful handling and planting.

Iris cycloglossa - Native to ripararian areas of Afghanistan, this plant is unusual for a Juno in its taste for some moisture after it has bloomed. The large lilac-blue flowers are scented of cloves and appear from spring to early summer. The easiest of the Junos to grow in gardens that receive summer moisture... $10.00 each SOLD OUT

Iris magnifica - Tall to at least two feet and large in all its parts... palest violet blooms with a deep yellow patch surrounding the white beard. A very strong grower, worthy of its name. Bulbs $ 7.00 each

Oncocyclus Iris Section: Rhizomous Iris making some of the most beautiful flowers in the Genus. The pure species prefer no moisture during their long summer dormancy. Many are endangered in their Middle Eastern or Central Asian habitats....

Iris petrana - We now have available this very rare Onco species- A stunningly beautiful Iris from from southern Jordan: its color is unlike anything else - a deep reddish mahogany that in certain lights appears nearly black. Requires a totally dry summer rest... Only a few rhizomes available - $30.00 each SOLD OUT

We are also offering one Oncocyclus hybrid that is both a strong grower and quite dramatic in its coloring.... Esther the Queen was hybridized by Eugene Hunt circa 1967 and carries a remarkaby striking bloom: Standards are lilac-blue with deeper veining; falls are pale willow-green blended and veined with deep red; a black beard on the maroon signal patch punctuates this unique combination of colors. Rhizomes are $7.00 each - and provide an easy introduction to the class.

Reticulata Iris - Our offering here is a few small bulbs of Iris kolpakowskiana- This bulbous species from the Turkestan is exquisitely beautiful with purple/lilac/ white flowers with gold on the falls. Somewhat demanding in its culture. $15 each.

Iris laevigata Section: Iris albo-purpurea 'Colchesterensis'- Strong offsets of this lovely and somewhat whimsical Japanese water Iris... Large white blooms stippled with deep blue lines and dapples. Always spectacular in flower, and not hard to grow. $7.00 per rhizome fan.

Ferraria ferrariola - One of the prettiest of this unusual South African genus... pale green & blue speckled & ruffled blooms. Unlike many other species in this genus - this has an appealing almond-like scent. Excellent in mild climates. Corms $5.00 each

Freesia viridis -Another rare South African bulb, with true green, small but fragrant flowers. in sprays. Must have a mellow Mediterranean climate. $4.00 per corm.

Gladiolus orchidiflorus -From the Cape Province of South Africa, this genuine rarity offers pale green and purple fragrant blooms... As the name indicates, having a diminuitive orchid-like shape. Requires skilled handling ...Few bulblets only - $15.00.

Lachenalia viridiflora- A favorite winter- bloomer that requires a really mild climate or cold frame/greenhouse culture. Unbelievably beautiful stalks of turquise blue/green flowers- Another gift to horticulture from the astonishing floral world of South Aftrica's Cape of Good Hope. Few corms only $10.00 each.

Lachenalia viridiflora

"The stylish thing to do is to align with one of the lifeforms
and help it be itself as long and strong as possible……..
Care about the beings you care about in gorgeous and surprising ways -
Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
This is your last chance."

Anne Herbert,
Handy Tips on How to Behave at the Death of the World 1995